Five years ago, 2019

• After waiving his right to a trial by jury, Donald Davidson pleaded guilty to killing a 37-year-old woman and kidnapping and raping her 10-year-old daughter. Judicial Circuit Judge Don H. Lester was the sole decider of his fate, and later in September, he sentenced Davidson to death.     

• The Florida Department of Law Enforcement launched an investigation against Sheriff Darryl Daniels after the agency and Gov. Ron DeSantis received a letter from within the sheriff's office.  According to several reports, Daniels was outraged during a patrol briefing where he reportedly used profanity and threats against the person leaking information.

• Superintendent Addison Davis gave the inaugural State of the Schools address. Meanwhile, the newly formed Clay County District Schools Police Department prepared for its first of five years serving the school district. 

10 years ago, 2014

• After terminating the "Big League Dreams" proposal, Board of County Commissioner Chairman Wendell Davis urged the commission to consider other revenue streams for the county with the goal being $19 million. 

• The Orange Park BJ’S Wholesale Club donated over 10,000 diapers to Feeding America, a national nonprofit that fights hunger through regional food pantries. 

• The Northeast Florida Regional Council expanded its mandatory evacuation zones in Clay County. Over 47,450 residents were deemed a "vulnerable population" in the event of a hurricane.

20 years ago, 2004

•  Johnny Pons announced his withdrawal from the race for Clay County Sheriff and threw his support behind fellow candidate Rick Beseler. Pons’ withdrawal left Beseler and Steven Richardson to do battle with incumbent Sheriff Scott Lancaster.

• Officials at Orange Park Medical Center launched an expansion project expected to take five years to complete. The project included adding 36 private rooms to its third and fourth floors.

•  Owners of CPD Fitness on Wells Road in Orange Park spent $300,000 to upgrade and renovate the 40,000-square-foot fitness center, formerly The Q.

30 years ago, 1994

• Clay County Sheriff Scott Lancaster expressed growing concern regarding tapped-out capacity in the county jail. State Department of Corrections officials told Lancaster they feared overcrowding would lead to inmate violence.

•  Clay County School Board members Carol Vallencourt, Wayne Ledbetter and Lisa Graham completed a voluntary advanced training with the Florida School Boards Association therefore earning the Clay County School Board the distinction of “Certified Board.”

40 years ago, 1984

• L.H. “Lanny” Lancaster announced he would not seek re-election as Clay County Supervisor of Elections after serving 10 years. Before that, Lancaster had served on the Clay County Board of Commissioners for 14 years.

•   The Florida Highway Patrol said Joseph G. McDade, 33, of St. Augustine, Fla. died at Clay Memorial Hospital in Green Cove Springs after a one-vehicle accident on State Road 16, just east of U.S. Highway 17.

50 years ago, 1974

•  Edward Melchen, county engineer for Clay County, turned in his resignation to take a job as Director of County Development in Hillsborough County. Deputy County Engineer John Bowles was named interim county engineer until a replacement could be hired.

• The Town of Orange Park completed construction on a new $340,000 sewage treatment plant on Ash Street. The new facility was set to treat one million gallons of raw sewage a day.